ERIN

Instructor for Weekday Adult Painting and Drawing Classes 

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and minor in Art History from Colorado State University

I am a painter, Illustrator, muralist, and instructor, currently working and residing in Colorado Springs. I teach numerous painting and drawing classes at Bemis School of Art at the Colorado Springs Fine Art Center at Colorado College, as well as at the Manitou Art Center. I have also taught painting at Cottonwood Center for the Arts, and teach numerous private lessons, and Figure drawing sessions.

Art has always been an integral and important part of my life. After putting myself through school, earning 2 Fine Art degrees, I lived in numerous cities throughout the US, always painting, but working a variety of jobs. Upon my return to my home town, with much determination and hard work, I became a professional artist, showing and selling my work, as well as teaching.

I believe that art brings all people together, as it helps us to express ourselves in a necessary, and even therapeutic way. Creativity is a calming, often challenging, and peaceful process for me. I am extremely passionate about Art and Art History, and look forward to sharing that passion and experience with my new students, and old, at Pikes Peak Artist Collective!

AMANDA

Instructor for Youth Membership Classes Monday & Tuesday, Youth Camps/Workshops, and Adult Painting Workshops

Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Texas
Master of Social Work from Simmons College
Focus on therapeutic art

Amanda is a painter, writer, and instructor with a background as a mental health therapist. She is a lifelong artist and began working as a sewist’s assistant at age 13, and a professional photographer at the age of 16. Amanda started her career by teaching art to elementary-aged children in both Texas and Boston. When she became a therapist, she focused on incorporating therapeutic art with clients and colleagues.

Amanda has extensive experience facilitating art therapy groups for neurodivergent children and teenagers, as well as people in recovery from eating disorders. While living in Memphis, she began holding art journaling and watercolor workshops for helping professionals. Amanda relocated to Colorado Springs in 2021 to continue her work as an artist in this beautiful, creative community.

Amanda values providing a calm, creative environment to reduce stress. She is passionate about creating a safe space for children and adults to develop their artistic independence and express themselves freely. Amanda is excited to get to know the community at PPAC and witness the beautiful art created!

TESSA

Instructor for Adult Clay Membership Tuesday and Thursday Classes
Clay Date Nights, Small Group Clay Sessions,
Youth Art Workshops

Bachelor of Arts in Art Education
(grades 5-12) and Minor in Italian from Salem State University

I’m originally from the east coast, but my love for travel and spending time in nature brought me to beautiful Colorado Springs. I’ve had a passion for art-making for as long as I can remember, experimenting with different areas of art spanning from mixed media painting to photography and even glassblowing, though my primary focus is currently in ceramics. I came to Pikes Peak Artist Collective in 2021 as a way to get involved in the local ceramics community. I met Rebecca whose vibrant energy and mission immediately attracted me to the PPAC community.

In 2013 I earned my B.A. in Art with a concentration in Art Education from Salem State University, and became certified to teach Visual Art to grades 5-12. After graduating I realized I preferred the learning environment of a community arts setting over a traditional school setting, where it’s more about connection and art exploration over grades. For the past 12 years I’ve been teaching children and teens in summer camp, community arts studio settings, and after school programs. In 2014 I began working and teaching at a ceramics studio in coastal MA which allowed me to expand my teaching to adult classes as well. Teaching also encourages me to develop in my own art, through my small business which I started in 2015 under the name Tessa Lation Studios, where I make and sell my ceramics.

My teaching philosophy is deeply rooted in personalization. I appreciate getting to meet and form a connection with each of my students, to have the chance to work with them one-on-one, accommodating their learning needs and interests. I believe the arts are for everyone, even those who don’t see themselves as traditional artists. I think a comfortable arts setting can offer healing through creating with your hands, as well as a bridge for connecting with other people in a supportive and inspiring community.

I’m passionate about helping people gain confidence in the arts, especially in ceramics. I’m particularly experienced in Handbuilding methods of ceramics, as those are the ones I’ve been drawn to. I also love getting people excited about Wheelthrowing, giving them a foundation to get into their own flow and finetune their skills. Over the years of teaching ceramics, I’ve come up with several “tricks of the trade” to help people along the way. I’m always happy to offer up several different methods to help a student break through any roadblock they might encounter.

ALEXANDRA

Instructor for Adult Clay Membership Monday Class
Clay Date Nights & Small Group Clay Sessions

Bachelor of Studio Arts – in process

Alexandra is a multimedia artist who is passionate about ceramics. Her study of Studio Arts consists of drawing, painting, printmaking, 3D design, and sculpture, but her love of working with clay led her to where she is now – a small pottery business owner and a ceramics instructor here at Pikes Peak Artist Collective.

The thrill of taking earthen materials and forming them into functional (or just simply beautiful) objects is one she hopes to share with many aspiring artists to come. She finds working with clay to be both challenging and therapeutic, and hopes to encourage others to get their hands dirty and experience the joy of clay firsthand.

Alexandra enjoys the creative community that PPAC has to offer, and she aims to cultivate a classroom that is welcoming and inclusive to artists of all skill levels. She believes that clay is a medium for all, and is excited to share her extensive knowledge of wheel throwing and hand building methods.

LIZ

Instructor for Adult Clay Workshops
Studio Ceramics Technician

Drawn to Colorado’s natural beauty and boundless opportunities for adventure, my family and I moved here 7 years ago from St. Louis. While living in the Midwest, I worked as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, engaging with clients of all ages with a wide range of abilities and challenges. It is a profession in which I quickly developed a deep passion for helping people learn to be successful in areas of their lives that are important and matter to them. That aspect of a vital career sticks with me and it resonates in everything I do.

My introduction to clay and the Pikes Peak Artist Collective came in the Spring of 2021. My husband and I took a private class with Rebecca; I fell in love with the art and the studio. That initial class inspired me to become a membership student at PPAC, to build a home studio, start my own pottery business, and to expand my experience with PPAC as a Pottery Production Technician and a teacher. I work primarily on the wheel, and love to alter my wheel thrown pots by utilizing sculpting and hand building techniques. The culture at PPAC encourages a vibrant exchange of ideas, talents, and knowledge. I love sharing all things clay with this wonderful community of artists.

As a teacher I believe that by providing an inclusive, supportive, and welcoming environment everyone can create art they love. In my approach to teaching pottery, I strive to foster an atmosphere that encourages each student to find their skills and talents, discover their personal style, and develop greater artistic confidence with each new project. I am always eager to offer students the tools, tips, and practical information needed to help them be successful. I believe there is no wrong way to work with clay and the art of creating with this tactile medium is a gratifyingly meditative process producing rich rewards every step of the way.

KATIE

Instructor for Clay Date Nights, Small Group Clay Sessions

Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Katie started her professional career in social work, working at several local community agencies here in Colorado Springs. Over the past few years, Katie has pursued her artistic hobbies as a new way to connect to the community. Katie began by assisting with youth art classes at PPAC, using all forms of media to create art. Katie has since transitioned to focusing on teaching adult ceramic classes.

Katie’s goal is to create an atmosphere for students and artists to pursue their creativity. She is there to encourage and support local artists- both those new to working with clay and those with prior experience. Everyone is welcome and she will be there to support you throughout your session. Katie believes that a supportive environment is key when trying something new, and as your teacher, she sees her role as creating that environment for your session.

In our pottery date nights and small group sessions, you will have the freedom to play, explore and create with wheel throwing and hand building techniques. The small group setting is perfect for you to build memories with your friends and loved ones, try something new, and connect to your community at the same time- and most importantly, rest and have fun!

Katie can’t wait to share her passion for ceramics with you. See you at the studio!

BROOKE

Instructor for Clay and 2 D Mediums

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education from Montclair State University

Brooke is a ceramicist, art teacher and yoga instructor.
She has naturally gravitated towards art since she was a young child, but became hooked on ceramics specifically after taking a ceramics class in high school. Brooke then went on to study art formally at Montclair State University in New Jersey. From there she went on to teach high school and middle school Art for 6 years.
She is currently taking a break from teaching in the public school setting and is so excited to fulfill her passion for teaching art at PPAC!
Brooke is passionate about teaching to the individual in order to help their artistic visions come to fruition. She also prides herself on cultivating a relaxing, engaging and community-oriented environment for her students to take a break from the ‘real world’.

ALISHA

Instructor for Colored Pencil Workshops

B.S. in Biological Sciences from Michigan Technological University
Ph.D. in Ecological Sciences from Old Dominion University
CPSA Signature Member in the Colored Pencil Society of America
Certified Life Coach from JRNI Coaching Intensive

Alisha Brown has been an artist since she could first grasp a crayon with her little chubby fist. Colored pencils first wooed her with their magic in high school and she subsequently made her first sale of a colored pencil masterpiece to one of her teachers. It’s been a love affair ever since and though, like all love affairs, there is an ebb and flow, colored pencil will always be her first true art love. She would love to share that joy with others. She has been teaching colored pencil classes off and on for years at the Norfolk Botanical Garden and her students bloomed under her easy going encouraging style. Alisha loves to experiment in all kinds of media and that willingness to “mess up” allows her students to relax and learn, even if that learning process leads to mistakes. Her classes are a no judgement zone and all about encouraging students to find their unique style.

Alisha has exhibited her award winning colored pencil works in local, national and international shows and looks forward to displaying her work in the local art community of her new home in Colorado Springs. Because of the deep love of this art form, Alisha very much loves to share her skills in hopes that she will recruit more artists to this wonderful community.

In addition to being an art adventurer, Alisha is a military spouse, mother of two children and two fur babies and occasionally a mindset coach (only when she has the right mindset.) Formerly she has been a scientist, a college teacher, and an adult education specialist and she is always on the lookout for the next adventure. She also teaches at Cottonwood Center for the arts and displays her art and other wonderful creations at Findings Boutique in Colorado Springs.

REBECCA

Owner/Operating Manager

Bachelor of Arts in Art and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon
Focus in glaze chemistry and environmental design.

Throughout my life I have had a strong awareness of and attraction to the beauty in all things; I am excited to bring my passion for beauty, design, and people to Pikes Peak Artist Collective.

As a life-long artist, I have been a painter, jewelry maker, and a ceramic artist. I appreciate the beauty in all forms of art but I find my primary medium for creative expression is working with clay.

Through my appreciation of creative expression, I want to collaborate with other art educators to support the growth of artists in Colorado Springs.

My experience at the University of Oregon allowed me to explore art and creative expression and enriched my passion as an artist. My Environmental Studies degree at the University of Oregon furthered my appreciation of the natural world providing me with multicultural experiences in Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. From those experiences I came to appreciate the changing world we are apart of and the importance that fostering the expression of creativity is necessary for the sustainability of a healthy world.

After moving to Colorado Springs from Pennsylvania with my husband Casey, I met Marcie Anderson owner of Studio 101 that was originally started by Rhonda Conn-Parent. My progression into ownership in 2019 was natural and an inspiration to honor the history of the studio and keep what has been created as a viable part of the community.

We look forward to continue to provide a supportive and comfortable art education center for both children and adults.

My goal is to see artists creating in a nurturing space that enhances expression, surrounded by art work created by children and adults, with various teachers providing different perspectives and skills and a wide variety of art shows held by different PPAC artists. As a community we can support one another, inspire our souls and thrive. Most of all, I am excited to meet you and learn how we can collectively enable the expression of art in Colorado Springs.